////////////////////////////
T/N: I'm back, after a long short time, I haven't stopped posting chapters, just took a break and with some life sh*t.
I'm not dropping the novel anytime soon, but my target is 1300+ chapters of this Novel.
////////////////////////////
Downey rolled his eyes, wondering whether the boss was generous or just indifferent.
A billion dollars, the second-highest in film history, and there was no excitement on her face. If it were him, he would probably be celebrating his victory with jumps and cheers. Little did he know that Laila was indeed happy. A billion dollars, even if she didn't need the money, the sudden increase was enough to bring her joy. More importantly, it was the honor of being second in film history, something priceless.
When she initially handed over the movie to someone else, she hoped to leverage the company's resources to create a top director, showcasing the company's strength and star-making ability.
Little did she know that Joseph, the one she had picked, would turn out to be like this! No wonder in her previous life he remained in the ranks of second-rate directors. She had always thought he lacked opportunities; otherwise, with his abilities, he should have achieved more.
The reality was harsh; she foresaw his filmmaking abilities but underestimated his character. He ruined a golden opportunity with his troublesome nature. It taught her a lesson: when nurturing talent, it's not just about skill but also about character.
In her past life, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" barely reached over $900 million, narrowly missing the billion mark. Getting such box office results was beyond Laila's expectations.
To challenge "Catwoman," she deliberately clashed with the release schedules, expecting some losses. Surprisingly, it not only broke the original record but set a new one.
Now, being second in film history seemed impressive, but Laila, with her future memories, knew that challenges to this record would come soon, and the billion-dollar mark might soon be surpassed.
So, while she felt excited, it wasn't excessively so. In her subconscious, a billion was a relatively "ordinary" number. Her excitement came not from being second in film history but from creating that figure herself.
The report was written by her own newspaper, filled with flattering words. Laila found it almost cringe-worthy, but she understood the need for them to praise her achievement. After all, the future boss had created such a remarkable feat; it was only natural to boost their favorability.
Looking at the report that depicted her as a once-in-a-century genius, an extraordinary and rare talent, Laila couldn't help but feel uneasy. She wondered who wrote this piece and considered asking to find out. A full-page article with diverse praises—such a rich vocabulary required deep cultural understanding. If this person had any interest in screenwriting, she might unearth a budding talent.
She smirked as she read the newspaper, and to others, it appeared as an enigmatic smile.
Downey rubbed his arms, feeling a chill as if a cold wind had blown through.
When James Cameron, the director of "Titanic," achieved the honor of being first in film history, he proudly declared himself the king of the world at the Oscars. Now, the boss, who secured second place, only had a faint smile?
Did she aim for the top? Was that why she seemed indifferent to the second-place achievement? Downey felt like he had figured out the truth, but he couldn't express it. Speaking such thoughts would probably lead to criticism for the little boss. Poor boss, if she were a bit older, more experienced, and had a longer track record, who would doubt her ability to challenge the top spot in film history?
Laila skimmed through the newspaper and lifted her head to find Downey looking at her with sympathy.
Sympathy? What was that about?
She met his gaze with confusion, "What's the matter?"
"Nothing!" Downey denied quickly. He didn't want to reveal that he had "seen through her ambitions." Failing to fulfill one's desires must be a profoundly sad thing.
If there was none, there was none. Laila didn't mind and continued with the day's filming schedule.
Many scenes in Iron Man were related to the military, so it was time to use a chess piece she had planted earlier—the police chief who was the immediate superior of the two unlucky guys who had taken her to the police station.
To get her coffee shop back, Victor used some means, but unfortunately, he encountered a tough opponent. He ended up with a bruised and battered head and lived a quiet life, keeping a low profile.
His luck was terrible; he ran into an influential Moran patriarch in the business world, who used various methods to make his life miserable. He also encountered a petty-minded police chief who occasionally caused him trouble. Life became painful for him. Even the joy he used to take in bringing young stars around disappeared, and he had to leave the United States under the guise of a vacation, waiting for his scandal to be forgotten before returning.
At that time, Laila didn't care much about the police station because she saw a use for him. The police chief himself wasn't worth her attention, but he had a good brother, a high-ranking military officer.
When planning future movies, Laila considered building a relationship with the military. Some films would undoubtedly require military support, such as weapons, equipment, and aircraft. Having these people help would save a lot of trouble. You couldn't rely entirely on special effects, right? It not only required a lot of money but also wasted time. It was better to borrow from the military.
After researching some military figures, she set her sights on the police chief. He worked in a police station near Hollywood, was said to have a good temperament, and was easy to get along with. Most importantly, he had ambitions and desired to advance further. Laila liked working with ambitious people; it allowed her to exchange her resources for theirs.
Originally, she planned to find an opportunity to get to know the police chief. Little did she know that the coffee shop incident with Victor would bring them together, and he unintentionally owed her a big favor. So, when she left the police station, she already got the answer she wanted—when she needed military support, the police chief would act as a middleman and ensure that she could borrow what she needed for filming.
Before filming Iron Man, she established contact with the military officer, the police chief's brother, and successfully borrowed what she wanted.
Even without this relationship, she could still achieve her goals through other channels. After all, she was a Moran, and her grandfather had good connections with influential people. Even the president could communicate with him on an equal footing. Borrowing a weapon or two wasn't a difficult task. But mainly, Laila didn't want to rely solely on her family; she preferred to achieve her goals through her abilities.